Chris Collins

Chris Collins (20 May 1950-) was a member of the US House of Representatives (R-NY 27) from 3 January 2013, succeeding Brian Higgins. He previously served as the Executive of Erie County from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2011, succeeding Joel Giambra and preceding Mike Poloncarz.

Biography
Chris Collins was born in Schenectady, New York in 1950, and he was the founder, President and CEO of Nuttall Gear Corporation in Niagara Falls. He invested in over twenty bankrupt companies and revived them, becoming a wealthy businessman. Collins served as Executive of Erie County from 2008 to 2011 and in the US House of Representatives from 2012, serving as a Republican Party member. He was accused of violating the civil rights of prisoners, and he also spent $6 million to improve the housing of polar bears at Buffalo Zoo at the same time as laying off 155 workers. During the 2016 presidential election, Collins backed Jeb Bush, but went on to back Donald Trump after Bush backed out of the race.